HTC Ups G1 Diamond Ests

HTC has said that it would boost the shipment estimates two of its most popular smartphones based on their popularity. Company chief Peter Chou now says HTC will have shipped about 1 million of T-Mobile's Android-based G1 phones through all of 2008, up substantially from the originally predicted 600,000. The Touch Diamond will also have seen far higher shipments than once thought and is moving from 2 million to 3 million units shipped since its launch in May.

Chou doesn't specifically attribute the increases to any particular factor but uses the new figures to dismiss rumors that HTC would need to implement job cuts, noting that its phone sales are increasing in spite of an economic recession.

The stepped up shipment estimates show healthier results for HTC but also stronger than expected demand for Google's Android platform, which so far has only been available in the US and UK since late October. Apple's iPhone has already surpassed its 10 million-plus goal for the year but has also taken advantage of both a longer sales period as well as availability in many more countries since July.

In addition to the boosted outlook, Chou also hints that HTC is nearing the buyout of a US cellphone design firm but declines to elaborate further. The buyout is unlikely to involve larger companies such as Apple, Motorola or RIM.

By Electronista Staff

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